LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 



Indian Names 



;)f Places Near the 



Great Lakes 



BY 
/ 

DWIGHT H. KELTON, A.M., 

w 
CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY, 

Author of Annals of Fort Mackinac; History of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, 

Corresponding Member of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, 

Corresponding Member of the Chicago Historical Society, 

Member of the American Historical Association, 

Member of The American Folk-Lore Society. 



o7' 



/ 

I 



VOL. I. 




DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 
18 8 8, 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year iS88, by 

D W 1 G H r H . K E L T O N , 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



Printed by 
Detroit Free Press Printing Co. 



THIS BOOK 

IS DEDICATED 

TO THE MEMORY OF MY FRIEND, 

HONORABLE 

LUKE POTTER POLAND 

OF VERMONT. 

BORN, NOVEMBER i, 1815. 
DIED, JULY 2, 1887. 



The last of all tlic Romans, /ar<- ihcc well." 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Alg-onkin, 17 

AshlandBay, 18 

AuroraBorealis, . . . .20 

Chee-chee-ping-way, 20 

Chesapeake, .... 21 

Chicago, . 22 

Connecticut, . .23 

Detroit, 23 

Eskimo, 24 

GardenRiver, 25 

Gogokazhogan, 2fi 

Housatonic, 26 

Huronlslands, . . . . , .26 

Illinois, 27 

Kaukauna, 30 

LakeWinnebago, 30 

LeechLake, 32 

LesChenaux, 33 

Manitoulinlsland, 33 

ManitouPayment, .34 

MauchChunk, 37 



5 COx\ TENTS. 

I'AGfe 

Metomen, 37 

MissouriRiver, 37 

MindemoyaLake, 41 

Monkey, 42 

Monongahela, 42 

Mudjekee wis, 43 

Nahma, 43 

Ottawa, 44 

Penetanguishene, 46 

Pontiac, 46 

Pyramid Rock, ....... 47 

Quebec, .47 

Quinnesec, 47 

Sachem, 48 

Saskatchiwan, . 48 

Saut Ste. Marie, 48 

Shiawassee, 50 

Sun-Dial, 50 

Tadoussac, 51 

Thermometer, 51 

Totem, 52 

Wabash, 53 

Washington Island, 53 

Wicomico, 54 

Yenadizze, 55 

Yorklsland,. 55 



GREETING. 



A glance at a map of the country adjacent 
to our Great Lakes, will show that a large num- 
ber of Indian Names of places, rivers, et cetera, 
have been retained in their original or in a 
mutilated form ; and it is with some of these, of 
Algonkin origin, with which we deal, in order to 
rescue from oblivion some interesting historical facts 
and legendary tales, as well as to give a clearer 
insight into the beautiful and well-equipped lan- 
guage of the fast disappearing race of red men 
who once occupied that country. 

Most of these words have never appeared on 
the printed page, at least not in their present 
form ; and those which the reader may have en- 
countered in similar publications, will here be 
found interpreted either differently, or more fully. 

Absolute freedom from errors and inaccuracies. 



S GREETING. 

is not claimed ; and scholars acquainted with the 
difficulty of the task will be the most lenient 
critics. 

As to the extent of explanation, a middle 
course has been followed. Some readers, would 
be content with a simple interpretation ; others, 
might ask for even more stringent proofs, or de- 
sire a still fuller account of the processes by 
which the results were obtained. Explanations 
which, to some, may appear mere verbiage, will, to 
severe critics, seem to be still wanting in com- 
pleteness. Let the former pass over what is, to 
them, devoid of interest. 

The terminology of Indian grammar, being as 
yet in an unsettled state, some liberty has been 
taken in this matter. Thus, by "formative," will 
be understood any single sound, syllable, or aggre- 
gate of syllables, that never appears as an inde- 
pendent word, but still conveys some idea or 
concept — often quite vague indeed — and obtains 
a definite meaning, or serves to determine the 
vague concept, when combined with other forma- 
tives or words, or when completed by mere formal 



GREETING. 9 

endings, or prefixes. The formative may be sub- 
stantival, verbal, adjectival, or adverbial ; also, a 
single root, a mutilated, enlarged, or metamor- 
phosed root ; or even the fragment of a compound ; 
and employed in the way of a prefix, infix, or 
suffix. But, in all cases, it is to be distinguished 
from mere formal sounds or syllables, employed 
to show the relation of ideas, whether they be 
used in the form of prefix, infix, suffix, or of 
reduplication, augment, et cetera. This distinction 
may sometimes be difficult, or appear arbitrary ; 
but, as a working rule, for the present purpose, 
it is convenient. 

A word about the use of the short dashes, in this 
volume. They serve to show whether a formative, 
or any other component of a word, is employed 
as a prefix, infix, or suffix. Thus, in Maiuo- 
nawangwatan, ma- (a formal syllable, a reduplica- 
tion), is a prefix ; so is mon- (a formative, a 
verbal, a metamorphosed root) ; -aiuaiig (a forma- 
tive, a substantival, an enlarged root), is a suffix ; 
-lu- (a formal sound, a truncated verbal ending), 
is an infix ; -ataii (a formative, a verbal, an en- 



iO GREETING. 

larged root), is a suffix. The fact that 771071-^ and 
-awa7ig, in the example here analyzed, appear in 
the form of infixes, is left out of consideration, 
their proper character being that of prefix and 
suffix, respectively. (See MoTiOTigahela^ 

For the purpose of more definite explanation, 
let us take the word Kakizveo7ia7ii7i^^ " at the 
place where they cross a point by water." Kak- 
(" straight," "right across," "diagonally"), is a 
formative (an adverbial, a simple root), that re- 
quires a terminal addition ; hence the dash is 
placed at the end. In the present case, that 
addition is -I'we, a verbal ending implying action 
or motion in a general way. It gives the compound 
{kakiwe) the conventional meaning, " he crosses a 
point," " he travels straight across ;" and, if no 
more be added,- the journey will be understood to 
be made by land. Now, to derive from this verb 
a noun designating a place, and the manner of 
crossing, the formative -07ia7i, " a boat channel," is 
added ; thus, kakiweoitan, " a place where one 
travels straight across in a canoe, or, by water." 
The formal ending, -ifig', places the word in the 



GREETING. II 

locative case ; thus, " at the place where one travels 
straight across in a canoe, or, by water." (See 
Keweeiiaiv.) 

The accentuation of the Ojibwa names in this 
volume is a venture. Readers practically ac- 
quainted with the language will easily perceive 
that in many cases the acute accent (') has been 
placed on syllables pronounced with no other 
stress of voice than others not thus distinguished. 
But they will also find that all these syllables 
contain long vowels. To insure a perfect pronun- 
ciation, not only every long vowel should be 
marked as such, but also those pronounced very 
rapidly should be distinguished by a sign of 
quantity. Such a degree of accuracy being hardly 
required in a work not intended to teach the 
language, accents have been somewhat liberally 
employed to make up for the deficiency in this 
respect. Moreover, the accentuation of Ojibwa 
words is frequently optional (as in the French 
language), and cannot be determined with the 
same precision as in English. 

Other words produced by means of the forma- 



12 GREETING. 

tives contained in this term, are e. g., kakakatna- 
gad, " it is square ;" ( kak-kak-^ " straight-straight," 
"straight on all sides;" -ajnagad, "it is thus;") 
giwideoonan, "a turning point leading into a 
channel;" (^giwi'de-, "around," "turning;" -o, con- 
tracted from -lua, the last syllable in giwideica. 
"he turns, sailing or rowing;" -onan^ "a boat chan- 
nel," from 071-, "a canoe," and the substantive 
ending -an; iiiaonan^ when used as an independent 
word.) (See Dctoiir?) 

This example, while illustrating the manipula- 
tion of formatives, also shows how necessary it is 
for the successful analysis and full interpretation 
of Indian words, to leave not a single component 
untouched by the critical scalpel. The neglect of 
this rule has led to innumerable failures. Hence, 
in preparing this collection, that rule has been 
strictly adhered to in all cases, where the meaning 
was not sufficiently obvious and certain without 
applying that severe test ; and whenever deemed 
desirable, the process has been embodied in the 
explanation. To do this in all cases would have 
swelled this volume to an undesirable size. 



GREETING. 1 3 

These remarks may serve as an apology, to 
the general reader, for the philological min,uti(^ 
embodied in this collection of Indian names. Of 
the approval, by linguists, of the course here 
followed, there can be no doubt, whether the re- 
sults obtained a^-ree with their own views, or not. 



Approximate pronunciation of vowels and con- 
sonants in the Ojibwa and other Algic dialects, 
used in the text : 

a^ as in father^ though frequently short. 

e, as in net, 

g, as in get. 

/, as in live. 

0, as in bone. 

d, i, t, o, represent the nasal sounds of these 
vowels. 

b, d^ g, /, k, m, n, p, s, t, as in English ; though 
the distinction between the sonant and surd mutes 
((9 and /, d and t, g and /c) is not so pronounced. 
In -many instances these sounds are interchange- 



1 4 GREETING. 

able. The same holds good of / and ch^ zh and sh. 
The sound of s sometimes approaches that of z. 
The letters f, /, r, and v^ are not found in the 
Ojibwa alphabet, and in the case of older Indians 
these sounds are often utterly unpronounceable. 
They generally substitute b or /, for f and v; and 
n^ for / and r. 

w is pronounced as in English, or nearly so, 
except at the end of words, where aw is almost 
equivalent to ao; iw to iu; ow to o-o. 

c and 4 occur only in the combination ch, 
which is pronounced as in church. 

For qu we write kw. 

X (a compound sound) would have to be 
written ks^ but this combination does not occur; 
whenever English ears hear it, it is in reality kas, 
kis, or kos; e. g., Metaxigay, or Mei-ax-e-kay, 
properly Metdkosige; Pawtuxet, from Pawitikoset. 

a is peculiar to the Menominee dialect. It has 
a sound intermediate between that of a in man 
and the same vowel in fare. The same, or 
nearly the same, sound occurs in the Delaware 
(^Lenape) dialect, where the Moravian {German) 



GREETING. I5 

writers rendered it by the combination ae. Both 
of these dialects have also the gutteral German 
ch, pronounced as gJi in the Celtic lough (or loch, 
as spelled in Gaelic and Irish). 

The combination ai has almost the (diphthong) 
sound of the English i; in many words, however, 
each letter is distinctly pronounced. The same 
holds good of aa, ee, it, oo, ae, ao, ou, and ei; 
pronounced ah-ah, ay-ay, e-e, et cetera. 



In addition to the usual abbreviations of the 
names of states and territories, the following are 
used : 

Co County. 

L. H Lake Huron, 

L. S Lake Superior. 

L. M Lake Michigan. 

S. of M. . . . . . . . Straits of Mackinac. 

U. P. Mich. . . . Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 

L. P. Mich. . . . Lower Peninsula of Michigan. 



1 6 GREETING. 

The particular locality to which the Indian name 
properly belongs (although the same geographical 
name may be found elsewhere) is in parenthesis 
following the geographical name. 



Unless otherwise noted, the Indian words are 
in the Ojibwa (Chippewa) tongue, one of the 
best preserved and most widely known among the 
dialects of the great Algonkin family of languages, 

Detroit, Mich. 



INDIAN NAMES. 



Algonkin. Yr^noh Aigongum; originally y^^ 
goumekin {Angofneki), a tribal name of obscure 
signification. It was first applied to the Indians 
of the Upper St. Lawrence and some of its 
northern tributaries ; afterwards, to all the 'Western 
tribes of a similar speech, such as the Ottawa, 
Ojibwa, Pottawatomies, Sacs and Foxes, the '' Upper 
Algonkins'' of the early French writers, and 
finally to all tribes of kindred speech, including 
the Micmacs, Abenakis, Delawares, and others in 
the east ; the Illinois, Shawnees, and others in the 
south ; the Crees and the Salsikaa, or " Blackfeet," 
in the north and northwest. 

To distinguish the whole family from the 
Algonkins proper, or " Old Algonkins," all these 
Indians may be conveniently comprised under the 
name of the Algic tribes, or Indians of the Algic 
tongue. The term is of spurious coinage, but has 



l8 INDIAN NAMES. 

obtained sufficient currency to be considered legiti- 
mate. 

A small remnant of the "Old Algonkins" now 
have their home on the Lake of Two Mount- 
ains, near Montreal. The early French mission- 
aries studied their dialect, in preference to the 
Montagnais (in use on the Lower St. Lawrence), 
as more distinctly spoken, and more closely resem- 
bling the dialects of the " Upper Algonkins," 
among ' whom many of them went to labor. 
Among the Algic dialects, the Ojibwa is the 
most widely understood, and extensively studied. 
The nearest approach to the parent dialect, or 
original form of the language, is found in the 
Cree, Old Algonkin, Ojibwa, and Ottawa dialects. 

Note. — Angomelchik, a name found in the Del- 
aware " Walum OlumJ' but hardly yet explained, 
may have some connection with Algou7nekm. 

Ashland Bay. (Ashland Co., Wis.) Zhagd- 
wamik^ in the locative Zhdgawdjnikong, "long- 
stretched beaver." Zliagaw-, "oblong;" aniik^ *'a 
beaver." 



INDIAN NAMES. I9 

Probably the original form of the name was 
zhagawamikay locative zhagawamikag, " a long 
shoal," or ''far-stretching breakers." Zhagaw-, 
" oblong ;" minamika, -a77tika, " a shoal/' " there 
are breakers." 

The change of form and signification would 
seem to be due to a legend which runs thus : 
Menabosho, pursuing the Great Beaver from the 
St. Mary's River (where he broke his dams, and 
thus formed the upper and lower rapids), through 
his pond (Lake Superior), drove him into Ash- 
land Bay. To secure his capture, Menabosho built 
a long dam from the south-shore to Madeline 
Island. While engaged in this work he threw 
handfulls of earth behind him into the outer lake, 
where they remain as the smaller Apostle Islands, 

The dam being finished, Menabosho sure of 
having cornered his game, entered through the 
North Channel, between Madeline Island and Bay- 
field Peninsula, but, behold ! the Great Beaver, 
digging out the South Channel (between Made- 
line Island and Shagawamikon Point), broke 
through Menabosho's dam, and escaped. 



20 INDIAN NAMES. 

The width of the South Channel is now two 
and a half miles ; but the older inhabitants say 
that formerly a point of land, extending from the 
western extremity of the island towards S/iao^a- 
zvamikon, made it much narrower ; and at one 
time, according- to tradition, the distance was so 
short that an arrow could be shot across. The 
neck of the long point has been washed through, 
within the last thirty years. 

Aurora Borealis. Chibdyag nimiidtwag, Cree 
chipayak niinituivak, " the dead are dancing." 
Chibai, "a dead person," "a corpse," '' a ghost ;" 
niini, "he is dancing;" nimiidhuag, "they are 
dancing with each other." 

Chee-chee-ping-way. The Indian name of 
Alexander Robinson, (" Indian Robinson," also 
" Chief Robinson,") who was partly of Indian 
descent, and one of the best known characters in 
the early history of Chicago. ChicJiibingwe, 
" Blinking Eyes ;" thus nicknamed by the Indians 
on account of a physical peculiarity. Chibmgweni^ 



INDIAN NAMES. 21 



or chichibingweniy " his eyes are twinkling ;" from 
chib-, "moving rapidly hither and thither, or up 
and down f -iiigwe, " eye ;" -eni, an ending of verbs 
referring to bodily states. 

Chibai, "ghost;" and chibani, (Ottawa) ''soul," 
are from the root chib; cJiicJiag (Ojibwa), "soul," 
is from chac, which has a similar meanino-. The 
conception is that of a fluttering shadow. Some- 
times they use Ckichag for " shadow." 

Chesapeake. (Bay.) Delaware KichizJiiiL'i- 
pe/c, or Kichisizuipek, "at the great salt water." 
Ojibwa Kichizhiwibitig, {K'lchi-, "great;" zhhcz-, 
"sour," ''salty;" -bz\ "water;") though ordinarily, 
they now say zhiwitaganikichigami ; zhhuitagaii, 
"salt;" kk/tigami, *' great body of water." , 

Zhiwitagaii literally means " something used 
for making things sour." This shows the modern 
origin of the term ; for salt, as a spice, was a 
commodity unknown to the Indians before their 
acquaintance with the whites." 



22 INDIAN NAMES. 

Chicago. (111.) Zhikdgoiig, the locative case 
of zhikdgOy ''a skunk," also used as a personal 
name. 

Early French writers mention a chief named 
Chicagou, who lived near the site of the present 
city. According- to tradition, Chicagou was 
drowned in the river. 

Whatever may have been the occasion for 
applying that name to the locality, there can be 
no question about the etymology of the word. 
Algic proper names are very commonly derived 
from the name of animals by the addition of o. 
Thus Zhikdgo, is zJiikag used as a man's name ; 
and zhikag, or zJiigag, is the Mephitis Ainc7'icana, 
or "skunk." The English term "skunk," itself is 
a corruption of the Abenaki form of the word, 
which is, sikango. 

Some have sought to lend dignity to the term, 
by tracing in its first s)llable, the second syllable 
of kichiy "great." This is plain!)' inconsistent 
with the Indian pronunciation of the name. 

The origin of the word, however undignified, 
is plain : zJiig, is the Latin mingere ; and kag, or 



INDIAN NAMES. 23 

gag, though now restricted to the porcupine spe- 
cies, was originally any horrid little beast ; hence 
zhi-kag, is equal to bcstiola focda mingens. 

Others have had recourse to zhigagawdzh, 
" wild garlic ;" but this does not help matters, for 
the ugly root zJiig, is still there, followed by -aga- 
zvdzh, " a plant ;" hence planta iwinani redolens. 
(See Des Piai7ies.) 

Connecticut. KinncHikwat, " at the long 
river." Ojibwa gonuatigweyag, or ge7iwatig07ig ; 
from gino-, "long;" and -tigzucyji, "the water 
runs." The verbal -tigzveya is derived from tigow, 
" a wave ;" and this from the root ^/g, from which 
we have -n^ig, " a tree f and -Iz'g, -shligwau, 
"head;" the common idea being that of ''top," 
" elevation." 

Detroit. (Mich.) From the French Le De- 
troit, "The Strait," ?'. c, the passage between. 
Lakes St. Clair and Erie. 

The Indian name is IVawiydtaitong, the loca- 
tiye case of VVazuiyatan, "the river turns," or "a 



24 INDIAN NAMES. 

curvino- channel." IVawiya-, ''round" (circular, or 
semi-circular) ; -atan, *' the river runs thus/' " a 
channel." (Compounds with this ending are used 
as verbs or nouns.) Hence the name of the 
IVeatanons, Oiialanoiis, or IVeas, a small tribe, 
now at the Ouapaw Agency, Indian Territory. 
Their original home seems to have been at the 
turn of the Illinois river near Hennepin (111.), 
which ■ also bore the name of IVawiyataii. (See 
Appleton.) 

Eskimo. Eshkihod, "one. who eats his food 
(meat) raw." Aslik-, "raw," ''green;" -piva, "to 
taste," " to eat." 

From the root ashk, in the Massachusetts 
dialect asq, plural asquash, we have the word 
"squash." In Ojibwa, the term eshkan darning, 
"what is eaten raw," from the same root, is used 
for melons, cucumbers, ct cetera. 

The Micmac form of the word is said to be 
Eski77iook, or Eskumoga ; Cree Ayiskinieiv. 

Frenchman. WcmitigozJii (Cree Wcniistiko- 
zhi), "one who has a canoe (vessel) of wood." 



INDIAN NAMES. 25 

Mitig, "tree," "wood;" -on, (Cree osi, ozhi^ 
"canoe," "boat," "snip;" oniitigoni (Cree omisti- 
kosi), "he has a wooden boat." The change of 
the initial o into ivc, makes the participle. The 
change of n to zh is quite common. 

The term dates from the first appearance of 
the French in the St. Lawrence River, when their 
vessels excited the admiration of the natives. 
Among the Cree, the word is now also applied to 
any white or civilized man ; just as the Ojibwa 
call whites of any nationality KicJiiniokomanag, 
" Big Knives ;" which originally meant Virginians, 
and later, Americans. 

Garden River. (Ontario. A tributary of St. 
Mary's River.) Kitiganisibi, "Plantation River." 
Kit-, kichi-, "notching," "hacking;" kitigc, "he 
plants," "he makes a garden;" kitigaii, "a planta- 
tion." 

In the beginning of this century, the In- 
dians living on that stream raised all the corn 
needed for the fur trade in the Lake Superior 
country. 



26 INDIAN NA^iES. 

Gogokazhogan, or " The Bridge of the 
Dead." The meaning' of this word is not " Owl 
Bridge " {J<[okokoo-azhogaii), as has been suggested, 
but "unsteady bridge;" from the reduphcated root 
gok, goshk, givashk, "trembhng," "jumping." Azho- 
gan, "a bridge;" from azhoge (azkaiu, "on the 
other side"), "he crosses over." 

The brido;e of the dead consists of a tree so 
lightly supported that it swings up and down, 
when the soul of the departed steps on it to cross 
the river which must be passed in order to reach 
the "happy hunting grounds;" consequently many 
fail, and falling into the river are changed into 
toads. Similar myths are met with among most 
Indian tribes throughout America, not to speak of 
thfi ancient beliefs of the old world. 

Housatonic. Wassdtinak, the New Enof- 
land form of the Ojibwa Awassaciinang, " beyond 
the mountain (or mountains)." Aivass, "further," 
"beyond;" -adin, "there is high land." 

Huron Islands. (Marquette Co., Mich., L. S.) 
Majidkondning, " whither they go for moss." Maji-, 



INDIAN NAMES. 27 

contracted from inaiuau-, "to go for;" wakon, 
"moss," "lichen;" -ijiq; locative affix. 

The lichen referred to is the edible gyropJioca 
known b}^ the French name of tripe dc rockc, 
"stone tripe;" in time of starvation used for 
making soup. Ojibwa ozJiashakon, from ozhash-, 
"slippery," "gelatinous;" and wakon, "moss." 
Other species are windigowakon, " giant's {ivindi- 
go) moss;" iuissabciijako]i, {jiiissabc, "great man;" 
-oji, "abdomen," "bowels;") "great man's bowels' 
moss;" both names referring to a legend in which 
McnabosJio changed his bowels, or other parts of 
his body, into eatable moss. 

Illinois. This is the French rendering of 

Ininowc (pronounced c-jicc-no-zca), the Indian name 
of the larofe tribe which once dwelt on the Illinois 
River. The substitution of the letters // for n, is 
accounted for by the circumstance that the / sound 
being wanting in many of the Algic dialects, the 
Indians of that speech generally change it into n 
when trying to pronounce it in foreign words. 
Now, by a curious process, — not without its analo- 



28 INDIAN NAMES. 

gies in other linguistic phenomena, — the whites, 
when pronouncing Algic words containing the n 
sound, frequently replace this by the /. The 
Indians say N'oc, N'ossi, Binib, and Nazheiickwe, for 
the French Louis, Lucie, Phillipe, and L' Angel i que; 
while the French have chang-ed the Indian Mishi- 
nimakinang., Minezvag, Okaganing, and Lniuowe, into 
Michilliuiakinac, Milouaki or Mellcoki (Milwau- 
kee), L^akalin, and Lllinois. 

The word Lniuowe, is the Illinois form of a 
name apparently once common to all the Algic 
tribes. Its original form, probably in i naive, or ani- 
nazve, underwent various modifications with the 
breaking up of the parent tribe and the conse- 
quent formation of dialects. 

With the Crees it became neJiiyazi\ ninawe, 
and neif/iawe; and with the Algonkins proper, 
niina. It appears in the lenuilenape of the Dela- 
wares, and in the corresponding anishinabe (orig- 
inally inininabe, anininabe,) of the Ojibwa, Ottawa, 
et cetera. 

Etymologically, the word consists of inin, 
"simply," "without any specification;" and aive, "a 



INDIAN NAMES. 29 

living- being;" and means "a person," and in the 
plural, "people." 

Readers superficially acquainted with some one 
of the Algic tongues, will be apt to doubt the 
correctness of this explanation, since the words 
////;/, and azac, are probably unknown to them ; 
nor are the)' to be found in dictionaries. Neither 
of them, it is true, occurs independently, but 
their meaning is evident from such combinations 
as the following : Zhishib, means a duck of an)' 
kind; while inijiishih means "the common duck," 
"the duck that has no other name." Kiuosra', 
(Cree) etymologically ^'long mouth," is any sort 
of fish; iyiiiikinosew, is the fi.sh, "the fish that 
has no other name," "a pike." Other examples 
are ininatig, "a maple;" ininandag, "a spruce;" 
Cree iyinimin (Ojibwa iniii)^ "a huckleberry;" ct 
cetera. 

Awe appears in oshkinawe, "a youth;" awessi, 
"an animal;" azucncji, "who;" awegzven, ''some one 
unknown to me;" tibinawc, ''self;" in hawdtok 
(Menominee), "a spirit," literally "who may he 
be," and Mdj-Haivcitok, "the Great Unknown," 



30 INDIAN NAMES. 

/. e., God ; also in awenuts, the New England 
form of hawdtok, and once applied to the whites, 
who were for some time looked upon as "spirits," 
or superior beings. 

Kaukauna. (Outagamie Co., Wis.) Ogdka- 
niiig, "at the place where pickerels are caught." 

Little Kaiikaiina, farther down on the Fox 
River, is the locality mentioned by Father Allouez, 
and by him called Kekalin. He made the portage 
May 1 8, 1670. (See Kawkawlin River ^ 

Lake Winnebago. (Wis.) The Indians 
now call it Winibigo-Sdgaigan, "the Lake of the 
Winnebago Indians;" but the original name was 
Winibi (pronounced win-ne-be), "dirty water;" in 
the locatix e case, VVinibing; or, in the southern 
Algonkin dialects, Winibig, Winipeg, is the Cree 
form of the same word. 

From the Lake, the Winnebago Indians, who 
lived in that neighborhood before they moved to 
Green Bay, received their Algonkin name ; and 
the early French^ being informed of the fact that 



INDIAN NAMES. 3 1 

the tribe had formerly Hved on the '^ dirty water'' 
were led into the erroneous belief that the tribe 
had formerly lived on the sea, or on salt water, 
which the Indians also called ''dirty water." 

This circumstance accounts for Nicolet's much 
discussed assertion that on his voyage to Green 
Bay he was within three days' journey of the sea. 

A three days' sail from Green Bay, would have 
brought him to Winihig, the ''dirty ii.'afcri' 

The assumption that he reached a point within 
three days' journey of either the W^isconsin or the 
Mississippi, and mistook the JMishisibi, "the great 
river," for the ocean, is entirely improbable. No 
one acquainted with the Algic tongues, as he zuas, 
would have made such a mistake ; for sibi never 
means any other than riDining water. 

There is absoliLtcly nothing in the account of 
Nicolet's journey {Relations of 1643,) that would 
make a trip up the Fox River probable ; no more 
so than the diversion to the Rapids of St. Mary, 
which has also been surmised. The assertion that, 
by the word "sea," Nicolet meant '*a river lead- 



32 INDIAN NAMES. 

ing to the sea," should be supported by at least 
one analogous example, to obtain credit. 

The removal of the Winnebagoes from Lake 
Winnebago to Green Bay, was caused by the 
Dakota raids mentioned in the Relations of tJic 
Jesuits. The shores of the lake were still unin- 
habited in 1670, for that very reason. 

Leech Lake. (Minn.) Gasagdskzvajzm^ka, 
"there are leeches there;" generally used in the 
locative case, Gasagaskwajimekang. 

Sagas kwaaji7ne, "a leech." Saga-, ''coming 
forth ;" -skw- (-skwi, -skiva, the radical part of 
miskzui), "blood;" oji-, "drawing in;" -m-, "mouth;" 
(as in ashajna, "he is fed," "something is put in 
his mouth;" ojihiv^'ino, "he speaks Ojibwa;") -e, a 
substantive ending, for the names of beasts, birds, 
fishes, et cetera; hence, sagas kwajzme, ."a beast 
that makes come forth blood by drawing with the 
mouth," "a blood-sucker." (Sangsice, the French 
for "leech," also means "blood-sucker.") The 
prefix ga-, and the ending -ka, are explained else- 
where. 



INDIAN NAMES. 33 

Les Chenaux. (Mackinac Co., Mich.) **The 
Channels ;" the plural of the French le chenal, 
**the channel," The Ojibwa name is Andniinang, 
"in the bowels." Ajidiunia, "underneath," "in the 
body." The name refers to the intricate tortuosity 
of the channels. 

Manitoulin Island. (L. H.) Manitbwdnmg^ 
"at the Spirit's cave." Manito, "a supernatural 
being;" wazh, "the den of a wild animal;" -iiig, 
locative ending. WazJi is a modification of wan, 
"hollow;" (e. g, wanike, "he digs a hole.") The 
term refers to a 'Mightning hole" on the rocky 
shore of the deep inlet on the north side of the 
island. This hole was believed to be the den of 
the Spirit-Snake, — personified lightning. 

The form Manitoulin is a corruption of Mani- 
tooualin, which is the French rendering of Mani- 
towaning. 

The Indians generally call it Otazvaminiss, 
"Ottawa Island;" as the ancient home of that 
tribe and now again inhabited by a considerable 
number of them. 

Its Huron name was Ekaentoton. 



34 INDIAN NAMES. 

Manitou Payment. (Mackinac Co., Mich.) 
A French corruption of the Ojibwa Manito Binizua, 
"the shooting of the Spirit." 

Legend, Misliiniakwa, the Big Bear, a spirit of 
the great lakes, had wantonly slain Mcnaboshds 
nephew and ward MamganSs, the Little Wolf. 

The hero, wan and haggard from grief, and 
planning revenge, wandered along the shore until he 
discovered the playground of Mishimakwa and his 
spirit companions. It was on the sand beach at the 
foot of the clay banks {Les E cores), east of Manitou 
Payment Point. There Menabosho waited his 
chance. His stratagem and success are related by 
the Indian story tellers, with appropriate panto- 
mines, in this wise : The sun stood high. The 
spirits emerged from their mansions under the 
water; Mishimakwa and Mishiginebig (the Big Ser- 
pent), with the Nibanabeg (Half-Fish Men), and 
other monstrous beings. They played and gamboled 
on the broad smooth beach, like happy children. 

Menabosho stood on high at the brink of the 
bank, silent and motionless. His toes had spread 
out, and, root-like, worked themselves into the loose 
soil. 

His nether limbs and his trunk were scaly and 
spotted with patches of lichen. His unevenly ex- 
tended arms looked knotty and crooked, like the 
limbs of a tree hoarv with ao^e, and his finLrers like 
its leafless branches. Thus stood Menabosho mo- 
tionless. 

Tiwe ! ("hello") cried the I'jig Serpent, what is 
that up there? A tree ? No, brothers, I tell you, 



INDIAN NAMES. 35 

it is not a tree. There was no tree there before. 
Perhaps it is Menabosho. 

If it be Menabosho, said the Big Bear, we shall 
soon know it. I will try him. 

Ugh, ngJi, shouted the spirits. 

Mishimakwa climbed the bank, stood up against 
the tree-like man, hugged him, scratched and 
scratched, till the scaly bark came down in pieces 
from his Hanks and back. It pained Menabosho, 
but he did not wince. He neither shivered nor 
moaned. 

The Great Bear loosened his 'hold, rolled down 
the bank, and quietly walked back to his com- 
panions. 

It is not Menabosho. he said to them. I have 
tried him. 

Easy, easy ! whispered the Big Serpent. Be on 
your guard ! Menabosho is wily. Let mc try him. 

Ugh. ngh, shouted the spirits. 

Mishiginebig went to work. With mighty folds 
he twisted around the trunk of the man-tree, up to 
the spreading limbs ; and then he began to squeeze 
him. It pained Menabosho, but he bore it without 
a moan. 

Once more the Big Serpent tightened his folds, 
and squeezed with twofold power. The pain was so 
great. Menabosho gasped for breath ; but he did not 
moan. 

And again Mishiginebig tried him. With all his 
might he squeezed the man-tree. It was beginning 
to be too much, even for Menabosho. Another 
squeeze and he would have cried out; but Mishi- 
ginebig gave up, satisfied with the trials. 



36 INDIAN NAMES. 

Slowly he unfolded his coils, and glided down 
the bank. 

It is not Menabosho, said he. I have tried him. 
Menabosho is a coward. He would have moaned. 
Come, comrades, to our sport again ! 

Thus spoke Mishiginebig. Again the spirits 
gamboled on the broad, smooth beach. 

After a while they rested. Scattered on the 
shining sand, they lay basking in the sun. 

This is thy time, Menabosho ! He does not stir. 
Easy, easy ! See his arms move, slowly, cautiously, 
keep still ! He draws an arrow from his quiver, a 
sharp, stone-tipped arrow. Easy, easy ! The bow 
is in his hand ; Kichiinitigwab, Menabosho's good 
bow. Keep still ! The arrow is on the string. He 
draws it back with might. The arrow flies. 

Whoop ! whoop ! ! whoop ! ! ! the war-whoop 
sounds from on high. The monsters are startled. 
The tree is gone ; Menabosho's war-whoop resounds 
through the woods. The spirits scamper. Mishi- 
makwa lies on the ground, d)'ing. The arrow sticks 
in. his heart. 

It was Menabosho. 

Note. — A tall pine overlooking the Epoufette 
settlement and visible from a great distance, has, in 
the Indian mind, some connection with this fabulous 
event. 

(The sequel to this legend can be found 
under Mis ha Mo/czca.) 



INDIAN NAMES. 2>7 

Mauch Chunk. (Carbon Co., Penn.) 
Delaware Maskdchiwink, "on the bear mountain;" 
corresponding to the Ojibwa Makwajiwmg ; from 
makzaa (Delaware uiasko), "a bear;" and wajkv, 
"a mountain." (See Bea^'- Creek?) 

Me torn en. Manddmin, "a grain of corn 
(maize);" used as a personal name. Pottawatomie 
Diatamin, Ottawa unndamin, " large grain ;" from 
mind-, mand-, "large." 

Mandaniincs, "Little Corn," was the Indian 
name of the famous voyageur Nicolas Perrot. A 
Pottawatomie of the same name {JMan-daw-mht) 
was one of the signers of the first (1821) Indian 
Treaty made at Chicago. 

Missouri River, (i.) Mislwjiisibi, or MesJw- 
nisibi, " River of the Big Canoe Tribe ;" " River 
of the Big-Tubs ;" " Mandan River." 

Mishi; inisk-, "large;" -on, "canoe," "vessel;" 
-z, verbal ending ; misJioni, ^' he has (or sails in ) 
a large canoe ;" mesJionid, " one who owns (or 
uses) a large canoe." When a partici[)le is used 



35 INDIAN NAMES. 

as a proper noun, the ending . d is generally 
dropped ; and in this case, the change of the 
first vowel is also sometimes omitted ; as, c. g., in 
Wemitigozhi, " a Frenchman ;" instead of Wemiti- 
gozJiid, from oinitigoue, " he has a wooden canoe." 

The name Mishoiii appears on old maps, and 
is mentioned by early writers, under the guise of 
Missourites, the ending, tcs, being added by the 
French, according to their custom ; the sh changed 
to ^i- (as in Mississippi) ; and n turned into r, 
also a matter of frequent occurrence. Accordingly, 
La riviere dcs JMissouritcs^ or the River of tJic 
Massorites, as Coxe has it, is the '' River of the 
Big Canoe Tribe." 

Among the Indians who lived upon the upper 
Missouri, in the seventeenth century, the allied 
Majidaus, Arickarees, and Gros Ventres, are the 
only ones now known to have made use (as a 
rule) of boats different from those of all other 
tribes, — not large, indeed, but of a very pecu- 
liar construction. They were the so-called "bull- 
boats," made of wickerwork in the shape of a 
tub and covered with skins ; and, though but 



INDIAN NAMES. 39 

about five feet in diameter, capable of holding 
six persons. 

If not large canoes, they were certainly large 
tubs; and Mishoui means also "one who uses a 
large tub ;" for the formative -on (from the root 
wan, "hollow"), originally signified any kind of 
liollow fixture or vessel, as, e. g, in the word ona- 
i^an, "a dish." Any of those three tribes, then, 
or the whole confederacy, may be the people 
whose ancient Algic name is preserved in the 
name of the Missouri River. 

This surmise would gain strength, if the name 
Mandan could be proved to be also of Algic 
origin, like Sioux, Winnebago, and the current 
names of several other tribes of different speech. 
In that case, its most obvious interpretation would 
be the same as that of Mishoni ; for mandoni, or 
niindoni (ixoxw. mand-, or mind-, "large"), and man- 
ooni (from niang-, "big"), likewise mean "he has 
a large canoe ;" and any of these words might in 
the course of time, or in the mouth of white 
speakers, have become Mandan. 

(2.) Pcngiviivdnow^esibi , " River of the Painted 



40 INDIAN NAMES. 

Cheeks;" "Piegan River." Pingwi, "ashes," "dust," 
^* paint in the form of powder ;" pingwiwiiwe, " he 
powders a person ;" -now, -a?zow, " cheek ;" piiigwi- 
wanozve, "he has powdered cheeks/' or "his cheeks 
are painted." 

This name was mentioned to Father Mar- 
quette in the form of Pekitanoui, most hkely by 
the IlHnois, whose dialect differs very much from 
that of the Ojibwa. Pekitanoui is said to signify 
"muddy water," or "muddy river," which, in the 
Cree dialect, would be pikaganiisipiy, pikagamichi- 
wan, pikinichiwaii, or, simply, pikittin. 

The last of these terms would explain a part 
of the name PekitanoiLi ; but the ending -anoiu' 
must be accounted for. Now, the Cree pikinana- 
ivew {irom. pikni-^ "powder," and -anaway, "cheek"), 
is the same as the Ojibwa pingwiwanawe ; and 
changing the first n to t (a frequent transition in 
the Algic languages), we obtain pikitaiiawcw, 
which resembles Father Marquette's Pekita7ioui, as 
closely as can be desired. 

The name, then, would seem to refer, like 
Mzskoni, to a tribe living on the Missouri (or 



INDIAN NAMES. 4! 

some of its tributaries), whose peculiarity was 
to paint the cheeks. And, in fact, there is such 
a tribe. In the sign language of the western 
Indians, the Piegans are still known as the 
"Cheek-Painters," or "Painted Cheeks." (See the 
gesture in "The Indian Sign Language," by 
W. P. Clark, U. S. Army.) And their Cree name, 
Pi kajiowiyiniw (from pik- "muddy," "dirty;" and 
-anaway^ "cheek"), means "dirty cheek man." 

The river itself is now called, in Cree, Piega- 
nowisipiy, " Piegan River." 

As to the transition from 7i to t or d, and 
vice versa, compare Cree atak, and Ojibwa anang, 
"3. star;" Ojibwe viwe, and Cree. ttowe, "bespeaks 
such a language ;" Ottawa zhizhodewaam, and Cree 
sisonchaam, "she sails along the beach." It is 
possible, however, that Pckitanwi was a misunder- 
standing on the part of Father Marquette, and 
that the name ofiven to him was Pekinanwi. 

Mindemoya Lake. (Manitoulin Island, L. 
H.) Mindimoyesdgaigan, " Old Woman Lake." It 
has its name from an island, which is said to bear 



42 INDIAN NAMES. 

a Striking resemblance to a woman floating on the 
water, and therefore called by the Indians Mindi- 
moye, " the old woman." 

Monkey. Nandomdkomdshi, "louse-searching 

beast." Nandomakonie, " he is searching for lice ;" 
-s/ii, a substantive ending, for the name of beasts, 
birds, insects, e^ cetera. 

Cree ayisinakesk, also otayisinakesk, "one who 
is in the habit of imitatinor." 

Monongahela. (River in Pennsylvania.) 
Memondwangehdak (Delaware), the participle of 
Mainonawangekela, " the river is digging away its 
shores." 

The Ojibwa equivalent is Mondwangwdtan, or 
Mamondwangwdtan, in the participle, Meiuoua- 
wangwatang. Monawe, " he is digging ;" {e. g. 
inonaapini, " he is digging potatoes ;" monas/ikwe, 
" he is tearing out weeds ;") -awang, " sand," 
" sand Ijank ;" [e. g. viitawanga, " the beach con- 
sists of pure sand ;") vwnawangwe, " he is digging 
out sand ;'' -a tan, " there is a water-course ;" " the 



INDIAN NAMES. zt - 

Stream Is acting In such a way." The reduplica- 
tion of the first syllable (mo, as customary, being 
changed to ma,) marks the repeated action. The 
Delaware termination -/ic/a, {-hclla, -henna,) sig- 
nifies -running water;" like the Ojibwa sibi, 
-tigweya, and -atan. 

Instead of monawangwata7i, the Ojibwa usually 
say metatawangwatan ; from met-, "wearino- out;" 
-ataivang, ''sand bank;" and -atan, as above. 

The French rendering of Mamonawangehela, is 
Malangiiele. (See La Pointe, for mon- ; Sandy 
Lake, for -awang; and Detroit, for -atan.) 

Mudjekeewis. ^^The West-Wind; father of 
Hiawatha r in Longfellow's poem. Majikiwiss, 
"the first-born son;" from maji-, "beginning;" and 
the obsolete kiwis, "man." Hence akiwesi, ''an 
old man;" kwiwises, "a. boy;" -gwiss, "a son." 

Nahma. (Delta Co., Mich.) JVame, "a stur- 
geon." The town is situated on Sturgeon River 
{Namesibi). 

The Delaware namaes, pronounced namds, is 



44 INDIAN NAMES. 

the diminutive form of this word, but in that 
dialect means " fish." This is the meaning- of 
name {^-ameg) in other dialects also, whenever it 
forms part of compounds, such as, c. g. Ojibwa 
nanictcg, zhigwameg, " dried fish ;" Cree zvabamek, 
" a whitish fish ;" attikamek, " a white-fish." 

The X^Q\2j\\2iX& Namasisipee, '''V\'^\ River," men- 
tioned in the traditional account of their wander- 
ings, is the same word. 

The pronunciation of a in the Delaware dia- 
lect is practically the same as in Menominee, — a 
sound intermediate between a in man, and ay, 
with somewhat of a nasal tone. 

Ottawa. One of the largest and most ad- 
vanced Algic tribes, and nearly related with the 
Ojibwa. Otaiva, plural Otawag, shortened from 
the obsolete odawdwe, Cree odattaw, " he has 
(owns) fur." (From -waive, -azue, " fur," we have 
e. g. mznwawe, "it has a good fur;" d/ssagwawe, 
''it has a thick ^costly fur;" atawe, " he traffics; " 
atawagan, " peltry " (in trade); Cree nandawaga- 
new, "he hunts for fur.") 



INDIAN NAMES. 45 

Like the names of many other tribes (as well 
as of some nations, ancient and modern), this 
name is of foreign origin. It was first given b)- 
the Algonkins on the St. Lawrence to one of the 
Ottawa clans on the east shore of Georgian Bay, 
who opened the fur trade with the French (de- 
scending by way of the Ottawa River), and, for 
some time, claimed its monopoly. From these, it 
passed to other clans of like speech, and for some 
time, was even applied to all the " Upper Algon- 
kins ;" (Pottawatomies, Ojibwa, Menominees, e/ 
cetera^ 

The French first called the tribe Cheveux 
RelevSs, "Standing Hairs," from their fashion of 
wearing the hair in crest-like shape ; afterwards, 
Outaouan, Ondataonaotcat (pronounced odatawa- 
wd) ; and finally Otiiaouak, and Outaivais. 

The term Cheveux Releves has made room for 
the more modern nanie Coiirtes Oreilles^ " Short 
Ears." This is an erroneous translation of Otawao; 
Kishkakoyag (or Kiskkakosag), '' Otawa of the 
Short-tailed Bear Totem," one of the most prom- 
inent clans of the tribe. {Kishkitaivage, "' his ear 



46 INDIAN NAMES. 

is cut off," or ''his ear is shortened;" a part being 
cut off.) (See Kish-kau-ko^ 

Penetanguishene. (Ontario. Canada.) 
Benatdwano-wishino; "where the sand sHdes down 
the bank." Bin-, bina-, "coming- off," ''dropping," 
"casting" (as in hinawe, "it moults;" binakivi, "the 
trees shed their leaves;" binagidoncshka, "the skin 
comes off his lips"); mitawanga, "there is sand 
on the shore;" hence binataivanga, "the sand 
slides down the bank." The remaining part of 
the word may include the vituperative or com- 
miserative ending -ish (as in Nadoivckweyainish- 
ing; see St. Igiiacc), or the formative -isJiin, "it 
lies thus." 

Pontiac. Ottawa BzvanSdiyag, or Boititiyak, 
"Anchor." Bon- "stopping;" anit^ "a spear;" -ak, 
"a stick;" anitiyak^ "a spear handle;" hence boni- 
tiyak, a stick planted in the ground to anchor 
(stop) a canoe. 

The term is not in common use; thev say 
instead, bonakajigan, from boiiakajigc, " he stops 
something [bon-), by means of a stick {juk).'''' 



INDIAN NAMES. 4^ 

The name just suits the famous chief Pontiac, 
who was the last anchor of the Indian cause. 

Pyramid Rock. (Mackinac Island, Mich.) 
Petakdlnkideg dzhihik^ "standing rock." Petaki- 
deg, "standing-," "sticking in the ground;" -abi'h, 
"hard mineral;" azhibik, "rock." 

The term petakabikideg^ is a sample of the 
curious system of compounding words, called 
"incapsulation." An imitation of the word in 
English, would be stick-stone-up-ing^ instead of 
sticking up stone. 

The modern name, " Sugar-Loaf Rock," would 
be translated, sisibakwatong ezhinagwak azhidik, 
"sugar shaped rock." 

Quebec. (Canada.) Montagnais Kazvdpak, 
"where the river is narrow." Ojibwa gawibwak, 
the archaic participle of zuilnua, "it becomes nar- 
row;" Cree ivapa, "a strait." 

Quinnesec. (Menominee County, Mich.) 
Pekivenesseg, "where the river forms smoke 
(spray)." Pakwene "there is smoke," "a rising 



48 INDIAN NAMES. 

cloud of smoke ;" -esse, " the river runs thus ;" the 
change of a to e, and the tinal £; make the 
participle. 

Pekwinesseg is the name of a fall of the 
Menominee River, in the neighborhood of the 
village. A few miles distant there are the '' Little 
Quinnesec Falls ;" Ojibwa Pekwencsses. 

Sachem. Sdgiiua, " a chief." From sag-y 
"comingf forth," or " rising above." 

Sagamore is a corruption of the same word. 

Saskatchiwan. (River in Canada.) 
Cree Kisiskdchiwaii, " the river runs rapidly." 
Ojihwai I^z's/izyzwan, from kizhi-, "fast," and -zj'iwan, 
-Jzwan, "the river runs thus." 

Saut Ste. Marie. (Mich.) Father Dablon 
named the mission established by him at the foot 
of the rapids in 1668, Samte Marie du Sault, 
" Saint Mary's of the Rapids." Sazit^ is the modern 
spelling ; " Soo,'' the popular pronunciation. 

From the word Saiit, "falls," or "rapids," the 
Ojibwa tribe obtained its French name, Sazitezix. 



INDIAN NAMES. 49 

At first, those only whose home was at the "Soo" 
were called by that name ; but by degrees it 
jDassed to all Indians of the same speech. The 
spelling "■ SauteiLT,'' though very common, is wrong; 
this word is pronounced differently, and denotes 
"a springer," or "a jumper." 

The Indian name of the town or rapids is 
Bazviting^ from bazoitig, "rapids." This is an 
abbreviation of batvitigweya, "the river is beaten 
into spray." (Some Indians pronounce it bagivi- 
ting, "where the river is shallow.") 

The Ojibwa band residing at the Saut were 
called Bawitigowininiwag^ or Bawitmg-ddzhi-inini- 
wag, "Men of the Rapids." 

The Indians have no general name for St. 
Mary's River; but have for the lakes into which 
it expands. The mouth of the river is called 
Giwideoonaning, "where they sail around a point." 

Pawtuckct, Powatan, Pawcatiick, Pawtttxet 
(Ojibwa Bazvitigosing, "at the little falls"), and 
many other similar names in different dialects, are 
of the same root as bawitig, and denote a fall or 
rapids. The root is bazu^ "to scatter by striking;" 



56 INDIAN NAMES. 

hence, e. g. bawinioodc "it is shaken off;" hazvisi- 
dcshiiuono, "he shakes the (hist (or snow) off his 
feet." Cree pawahainoyaw^ "the snow falls off 
the trees." (See Detour.) 

Shiawassee. (River in L. P. of Mich.) 
AzJiabzuesse (generally used as a participle, Azhao- 
lucssig), "it runs back and forwards," "the river 
twists about." Azhaia-, "across," ''from one side 
to the other" (as in azhawa, "he crosses a bod)- 
of water;" az/iaok, "from one side to the other"); 
and -esse, "the river runs thus." A look at the 
map shows the appropriateness of the term, espec- 
ially if you compare the course of the S/uawassee 
with that of the Tittabawassee. 

S u n - D i a 1 . Dibaio-isisszvan^ " sun-measure." 
Dibaioan, "measure ;" ;'v'.sv'.s\s\ "sun." 

The only sun-dial known to the Indians in 
their untutored state was a stick or twig stuck 
into the ground or snow, with a line traced in 
the direction of its shadow. This contrivance 
was, and is still, us(;d bv travelers. The intention 



INDIAN NAMES. 5 1 

is to let those in the rear know the time of the 
day at which the advance party started from, or 
passed, the spot thus marked. 

At present, dibaigisisswaii is the name of a 
watch, clock, or any time-piece. 

Tadoussac. (Canada.) Tofoshak, ''breasts." 
The place is so called from its landmark, two 
dome-shaped mountains. 

Thermometer. Kissina-dibdbishkddeg, "where 
the cold is weighed," "cold-balance," "cold-scales." 
Kissina, "it is cold;" dib-, tip-, "equal," "opposite;" 
-abishk, -abik, "stone," "metal;" -ode, verbal end- 
ing ; -g, participle ending. Dibabishkode, " it is 
weighed," literally means, " it is balanced by 
means of a stone (or piece of metal)." 

The archaic form -abishk (now -abik; Massa- 
chusetts -ainbsk: Cree -abis/c), shows that the term 
is not of modern coining, and, consequently, that 
the Ojibwa made use of weights before civiliza- 
tion reached them. 



52 INDIAN NAMES. 

Totem. Ode, , " isLmWy," "gens," "family 
mark," " ancestral animal." Whenever this word 
is used in the sense of "family mark," or "ances- 
tral animal," it is invariably connected with a per- 
sonal pronoun ; and as in this case the connective 
d, and the possessive ending m are required, it 
has passed into the French and English languages 
under the form of dodcin, or totem. 

Here are some examples of its use. Nizhode 
ayawagf "there are two families there." Wedetojig, 
"persons living together in a village." Nindodcm, 
"my family mark," "my ancestral animal." Migi- 
si nind ododeminan., " I have the eagle for my 
totem." Makzvan odododcniiuan, "his totem is the 
bear." 

The principal totems of the Ojibwa tribe are, 
the bear {inakwd), the crane iajijak), the marten 
{ivabiz lies III), the catfish (inanavieg), the wolf 
(inaingaii), the loon {/nang), the moose {7}ios), 
the burbot (awassi, azvassissi\ the bear's sirloin 
{iioke), the pigeon-tail {aawe), the eagle (iJiigisi). 
Others, less wide-spread, are the reindeer (ati'/c), 
the "merman" (nibanabc). the hnx {bis/iha), the 



INDIAN NAMES. 53 

black cluck {niakafcs/izb), the pike (^ginozke), the 
whitetish {atikainco^, the sucker {iiauicbin), the 
beaver {aniik), the wild goose {nika), the gull 
(^gayashk), the hawk [kckek). 

Most of these totems are also found among 
the Ottawa, tooether with the following: the 
rattle-snake [z/iis/iio-zuc), the water-snake {cmiissan- 
daiuo), the sturgeon {name), the sparrow-hawk 
[ p'ipigizvises), the thunder, or thunder-bird (t?///;;///7J, 
and the fork [nissawakwad). 

"Wabash. (River in Indiana and Illinois.") 
Wdbashkikisibi, " I)og River." Wabashkiki, "a 
bog," " a marsh ;" from wab-, " white ;" -ashk, 
"orass;" -//'/, "oround." 

Washington Island. (Green Ray, Wis.) 
Wassekigancso, ''his (sweat-covered) breast is shin- 
ing." IVasse-, "shining;" kakigan, "breast;" -eso, 
the ending of many verbs referring to the condi- 
tion of the human l)ody. This compound is used 
when a man is perceived at a distance, by the 
reflection of the sunbeams from his bare breast 



54 INDIAN NAMES. 

covered with perspiration ; c. g. while paddHng a 
canoe. The term is properly applicable to per- 
sons only; by a bold hgure of speech it has been 
transferred to that island, visible at a great dis- 
tance when its perpendicidar white clifts reflect 
the light of the sun. 

The first name found on .maps, was " Potta- 
wattomie Island " (Poicwahiuiiniuiiss) ; it having 
been occupied bv that tribe about the middle of 
the 1 7th century. 

The French name was Isle des Poux ; from 
the nickname of those Indians. This name led 
some map makers to call it " Louse Island " 
iyPou^ "a louse "). 

W"icomico. (River in Maryland.) Delaware 
Wikdmika (Ojibwa ivigiwdDiika)^ " there are houses 
(lodges, wigwams) there." 

The term for "house," among the Ojibwa, is 
zvakaioau ; for "lodge," wioiivam ; while the 
Ottawa use the latter word for both houses and 
lodges, reserving the term zvakaigaii for a forti- 
fied enclosure, " a fort." Both words are appar- 



INDIAN NAMES. 55 

ently derived from the root wag^ wak^ or ' wik^ 
"something round," which appears in the follow- 
ing derivatives; zvakwi (Ottawa), '' heaven ;" wagi- 
nogan, "a round lodge;" zvikwcya, "there is a 
bay ;" wak, " spawn ;" and many others, including 
those derived from the form waskk^ as zvas/ikossc, 
"he makes a crooked route;" meaning "he walks 
circuitously ;" watvisJikamo, "the trail is crooked;" 
and probablv also zvawasJikcsJii, "a deer." ^ 

Yenadizze. The ''idler and gambler^'' in 
Longfellow's Hiaicatha. Aiiiadisi, "he behaves 
in different wa\-s," "he leads a roving life;" anocli 
<22>2«^m, " he conducts himself oddly;" the iterative 
forni of iiiadisi, " he behaves thus ;" from in- 
(zzki-\ "so;" and -ad/s/, "he is," "he behaves." 

York Island. (One of the Apostle Islands, 
L. S. ) Ganiiskivdbiuiizhikano; " where red willows 
abound," or " where there is plenty of Kiuiiiki- 
jiiidc^ MiskK<abi))iizh, "red willow;" -ika, "it is 
plentiful there;" ga-. an obsolete participial prefix. 
The red willow, is one of the plants that fur- 
nishes the Kinnikinick. 



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E. P. FOLEY. R. P. FOLEY. 



Foley'sARTCalle 



ry 



HEADQUARTERS FOR ALL KINDS OF 



Photographic Views, 

oil AND WATER COLOR PAINTINGS. 



Artists will go with parties to any point on or off Mackinac 

Island, to make special uieius on demand 

for a reasonable compensation. 



Steam Lapidary Machinery 

In connection, for shaping and polishing Agates, many of 
which are found on this lapideous Island. 

AGATE JEWEIRY A SPECIALTY. 



Do not fail to call and examine the many fine specimens of 
Northern Michigan Animals exhibited here free of charge. 

FOLEY BROS., Prop's, 
Cor. Fort ano Main Streets. MACKINAC ISLAND. 



JoHN-JAGOe-ASTOR-HOUSE 

MACKINAC ISLAND, MICH. 



HEADQUARTERS OF ARMY AND NAVY OFFICERS. 

Former Headquarters of the American Fur 
Company . 



The Astor House is conveniently located about one hundred yards 
from the wharf where all passengers are landed. Tourists stopping at 
the Astor will save carriage hire to and from all boats stopping at the 
Island. 

No fire traps — 12 easy fire-escapes. 

Fresh eggs and poultry from the Astor Farm. Fresh milk and 
butter from the Astor Jersey Dairy. 

This is the only hotel on the Island which is supplied with pure 
running spring water. By authority of a special Act of Congress, we 
have run a pipe from the noted " Manitou Spring," and the Astor 
House is now supplied for all purposes with the best and purest water 
on earth. It was in their vain but determined attempt to retain pos- 
session of this, their sacred spring, the ancient tribe of the MisJnnimaki 
were utterly exterminated (This is the only spring on this continent 
north of the City of Mexico, where the natural temperature of the 
water is twenty degrees colder in the summer than in winter. Winter, 
55 degrees; Summer, 35 degrees Fahrenheit.) 

Guests of the Astor have access to the old and original books of the 
American Fur Company. 

In the basement of the Astor House is the celebrated Astor Fire- 
place — so often referred to by Irvintr — the largest fireplace in the 
United States. 

JAMES F. CABLE, Propr. 



MiCHIGAN r iENTRAL 



THE- 



DIRECT ROUTE 



^ACKINAC 



[ SLAND. 



Through Cars from Detroit, con- 
necting at Bay City with through 
cars from Chicago and Jackson. 




To 

An island, 

GREEN ^"^ 

AND 
GRASSY, 

Yonder in the 

Big-Sea-Water 



TH 



C ommercial H otel. 

C. W. DABB & CO., Proprietors. 



ACCOMMODATIONS FOR FIVE HUNDRED GUESTS. 




Corner Lake and Dearborn Streets, 

CH ICAGO. 



The location is most accessible to Depots, Steamboat Landings, Theatres, Public Buildings, 

Parks, and all objects of interest. Full South and East Fronts, Passenger 

Elevator, Electric Lights and all Modern Improvements. 



TERMS, $2.00 AND $2.50 PER DAY, INCLUDING MEALS. 

Supper, Lodging and Breakfast, $1.50. Lodging and Breakfast, $1.00. 
Meals, 50 Cents Each. 



A. B. DICKINSON, 

of 
Sinith's Hotel, Hillsdale, Mich. 



FRANK H. CARR, 

Formerly Cashier Boodv House, 
Toledo, Ohio 



\ 



^^ BKUNSft.^^ 



t 



^ 









^ 



Cor. of State and Griswold Sts,, 



One Square fponi City Hall, 



DETROIT, 



MICHIGAN, 



Location Central. Convenieut to the leading stores and places of 
amusement. First-class in all appointments, havine; passenger elevator, 
heated by steam, hot and cold water in rooms, and all modern improve- 
ments. A large number of very desirable guest and sample rooms have 
recently been completed in the adjoining building on State Street, im- 
mediately in the rear of M. S. Smith & Co.'s jewelry store, making our 
location absolutely central, and giving ample accommodations for over 
one hundred guests. 



KATES, $*2.50 and $2.00 PEK DAY. 



DICKINSON & CARR, 



Proprietors, 



Cheboygan, Mackinac & Sault Ste Marie 

DAILY LINE STEAMERS. 



The Only Daily Line on this Popular Route. 



Stmr. "Soo City." 


Stmr. "Minnie M." 


BYRON ARMSTRONG, Captain. 


J. B. MONDOR, Captain. 


ED A. PLUM. Clerk. 


F. M. HUBBARD, Clerl<. 


LEAVES 


LEAVE.S 


CHEBOYGAN 


CHEBOYGAN 


Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 


Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 


6 o'clock a. 111. 


6 o'clock a. m. 


MACKINAC ISLAND 


MACKINAC ISLAND 


9 o'clock a. m. 


9 o'clock a. 111. 


AKKIVINO AT 


ARRIVING AT 


SAULT STE MARIE 


SAULT STE MARIE 


6 o'clock p. 111. 


6 o'clock p. 111. 


LEAVES 


LEAVES 


SAULT STE MARIE 


SAULT STE MARIE 


Tuesdays, THursdays and Saturdays 


Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 


ti o'clock a. m. 


6 o'clock a. ni. 


ARRIVES AT 


ARRIVES AT 


MACKINAC ISLAND 


MACKINAC ISLAND 


2 80 o'clock p. in. 


2.30 o'clock p. m. 


CHEBOYGAN 


CHEBOYGAN 


5 o'clock p. m. 


5 o'clock p. ill. 



STOPPING AT ALL PLACES OF LANDING ON THIS ROUTE. 

For further information, call on any of tlie following agents: 

P. H, HORNE, LAMOND & ROBINSON, A. S. RUSSEL, 

Cheboygan. Mackinaw City. St. Ignace. 

GEO. KEMP, 

Sault Ste Marie, or 

W. R. OWEN, Manager, 

33 Metropolitan Blotk, 

CHICAaO, ILL. 



GEO. T. ARNOLD, 

Mackinac Island. 



Chippewa House 



Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. 



lOO i«oo:m», 
Terries, ^S.OO tiixci ^2. SO i^&f Tytsky, 



HEADQUARTERS FOR THE ARMY AND NAVY. 

HEADQUARTERS FOR ALL FISHING CLUBS. 



The Chippe-wa House is conveniently located on 
Water Street, (nearer the river than any other hotel in 
the city), a fe^A^ yards froni where all the passengers 
are landed who arrive by boat ; fifty yards froin the 
main entrance to Fort Brady, (the Army Officers 
messing at the Chippevv^a), and one hundred yards 
from the Canal Locks. 

Electric lights in every room, and the house fitted 
^A^ith all modern conveniences. No danger from fires, 
as the rooms are on the ground floor, or up but one 
flight of stairs. 

All passengers arriving by boat will save carriage 
hire to and from all boats, by stopping at the Chippewa. 

Ferry boats running to the Canada side of the river 
start every fifteen minutes from the \?v"harf opposite 
the Chippewa. 

HENRY P. SMITH, Prop'r &l Manager. 



The New Mackinac 

{Built in iSSS, upon the site of the old "Macki7iac House," 
which was burned in January, iSSy.) 

Mackinac Island, - - Mich. 



100 GOOD BED ROOMS. 

Terms, S2.00 and S2.50 Pei- D,ay. 



This house is well arranged for the comfort of tourists, and is con 

veniently located opposite the end of the only passeusier wharf 

on the Island. The turniture, carpets, etc., are all new. 

The house is equipped wilh electric bells, and 

all modern conveniences. 



FRED. R. EMERICK, 



Proprietor and Manager. 



This hotel lias been built and arranged for the special comfort and convenience of 
summer boarders. 

On arrival, each guest will be asked how he likes the situation, and if he says the 
hotel ought to have been placed upon Fort Holmes or on Round Island, the location 
of the hotel will be immediately changed. 

Corner front rooms, up only one flight, for every guest. Baths, gas, electriciiy, 
hot and cold water, laundry, telegraph, restaiu'ant, fire alarm, bar-room, billiard 
table, daily papers, sewing machine, grand piano, and all other modern conveniences 
in every room. Meals every minute, if desired, and consequently no second table. 
English, French and German dictionaries furnished every guest, to make up such a 
bill of fare as he may desire. 

Waiters of any nationality and color desired. Every waiter furnished wiih a libret- 
to, button-hole boquet, full dress suit, ball tablet, and his hair parted in the middle. 

Every guest will have the best seat in the dining hall and the best waiter in 
the house. , 

Our clerk was carefully educated for this hotel, and he is prepared to please every- 
body. He is always ready to sing any song you desire, play upon your favorite 
musical instrument, match worsted, take a hand at draw-poker, play billiards, study 
astronomy, lead the german, amuse the children, make a fourth at whist, or flirt 
with any young lady, and will not mind being "cut dead when Pa comes down." He 
will attend to the telephone and answer all questions in Choctaw, Chinese, Chippewa, 
Volapuk, or any otlier of the Court languages of Europe. 

The proprietor will always be happy to hear that some other hotel is '"the bes 
in the country." Special attention given to parties who can give information as to 
" how these things are done in Boston.'" 

For climate, beautiful scenery and health, Mackinac Island cannot be surpassed; 
only one funeral in 1887,— the patient called a doctor. 



OOI^S 



BT 



DWIGHT H. Kelton, 



CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. 



History ofltieSailtSte Mary Canal; 



PAPER, 15 CENTS. 



Annals of Fort Mackinac; 



PAPER 25 CENTS. 



liaii Its I Places lartlictaliates; 



CLOTH, $1.00. 



The above sent by mail upon receipt of price. 

KELTON & CO., 



